Island



No. 623,554. Patented Apr. 25, I899.

J. MGALLISTER &. H. E. BARLOW.

AUTOMATIC WATER RETURN APPARATUS.

(Application filed June 24, 1898.) (No Model.)

\N'itnesses I nventon;

llw rnn STATES PATENT. @rricn.

JAMES MOALLISTER AND I'IOVVARD E. BARLOlV, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

AUTOMATIC WATER-RETU RN APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 623,554, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed June 24, 1898. Serial No. 684,364. (No model.)

supply pipes back to the boiler or generator by gravity.

The object of the invention is to form a closed system which will conduct this water of condensation back to the generators at nearly the initial temperature withoutloss and with out the use of pumps, steam-traps, or like v moving mechanism.

The mechanism illustrated (partly in section) in the accompanying drawing represents the system attached to and taking the water of condensation from the main steam-pipe of an engine and conveying it back to the boiler.

The steam in passing from the generator A through the main steam-pipe B to the engine 0 naturally has a large amount of condensation, particularly if the steam is carried to any considerable distance. Vet steam and water, as is well known, are very detrimental to the action of an engine if they are allowed to enter the cylinders. Therefore the condensation is collected in the well 40 just before it reaches the engine and is conducted down through the pipe 01 into the receiver 6. The steam which has formed a pressure in the receiver rushes' up through the riser f, carrying the water with it in small particles. This falls into the straining-chamber g, which is inclosed in the receptacle n, and water here leaves the steam by passing through the openings in the straining-chamber and falls to the bottom of the receptacle 7L, leaving the dry steam to rise to the top. The receptacle h is surrounded by jacket w to prevent loss of heat from the water thatit may return to the boiler at as high a degree of temperature as possible. The free steam which has passed to the top of the receptacle is conducted by the smaller pipe 7r down through the injector Z, taking in the necessary quantity of water from water-supply pipe m and going directly into the lower part of receiver through the cheek-valve n. A petcock s is attached to the overflow-pipe 25 of the injector Z for the purpose of drawing off the water, if occasion requires.

The operation is as follows: The steam and its water of condensation flow from the main steam-pipe B or well fL down into the receiver e. The steam, passing rapidly over the water lying in the bottom of the receiver, rushes up the riser-pipe f, carrying with it a portion of the water in highly-comminuted particles, which go into the receptacle above, where the steam and water separate by passing through the straining-chamberg. The water r falls to the lower end, whence it passes into the boiler by its own gravity. The steam separated from the water passes out from the top of the receptacle and around through pipe 7s and injector L into the lower part of the receiver e, taking water in with it from the supply-pipe m, and is again carried up the riser-pipe f, with the water of condensation that is continually flowing in from the main steam-pipe B going through the receptacle n into the boiler, as above explained.

While this system works well on stationary steam-power plants, it is particularly adapted to steamboats, as the rolling of the Vessel often causes anv excess of water to How over into the steam-mains, and by collecting to the receiver makes the system also act as a high-steam feed-water heater, which in practice is found to be very advantageous. This makes a perfect working close system, operating without perceptible loss and without the objectionable noise of escaping steam.

Having thus described our improvements,

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a closed gravity return system, the combination of a steam-boiler a steam-engine and steam-supply pipe connecting said boiler with said engine, with areceiver, a pipe eonnecting said supply-pipe with said receiver, a steam and water receptacle situated above said receiver, a straining-chamber inclosed in said receptacle, a vertical pipe connecting said receiver with said straining-chamber, a pipe connecting said receptacle with said steam-boiler, an injector connected to the lower part of said receiver, a smaller pipe connecting upper part of said receptacle with said injector, and a water-supply pipe connected to said injector, substantially as described.

2. In a closed gravity return system, the combination of a steam-boiler a steam-engine a Steam-supply pipe connecting said boiler -with said engine, and a well attached to said supply-pipe, with a receiver a pipe connecting said well with said receiver, astrainiugchamber to separate the steam from the water, inclosed in a receptacle, a steam and water receptacle situated above said receiver, a pipe connecting said receiver with said straining-chamber through the upper end of receptacle, a pipe connecting the lower end of receptacle with said boiler, and pipe leading from top of said chamber, substantially as described.

3. In a closed gravity return system, for steam-boilers, and stean'i-engines, the combination of a receivera pipe connecting steamsupply pipe with said receiver, a steam and water receptacle situated above receiver, a steam and water separating device supported within said receptacle, an upright pipe conmeeting said receiver with said steam and water separating device through the upper end of said receptacle, a pipe connecting the lower end of said receptacle with said steam-boiler, a pipe to conduct the steam from the upper end of said receptacle down through an injector and checlcvalve into said receiver, with said injector and check-valve subst-antiallyas described.

at. In a closed gravity return system, [or steam-boilers, and steam-engines, the combination of a receiver, a steam-supply pipe a )i )e connectim said steam-su nlv )l )6 with D L u.

said receiver, a steam and water separating receptacle situated above said receiver, and said generator, an upwardly-extei'lding pipe connecting said receiver with the upper end of said receptacle, a pipe connecting the lower end of said receptacle with said steam-boiler, an injector and check-valve connected to the receiver a pipe to conduct the steam from the upper end of said receptacle down through said injector and check-valve, a pipe connected to a supply of water at a lower temperature for supplying water to said injector, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 23d day of May, A. l). 1808.

JAMES I\[C1\LLIS'IER. IIO\VARI) E. llARLOlV.

In presence of BENJ. ARNOLD, E. 13. READ. 

